HPC-UK’s Top Tips for Fat Loss. Tip No.9– Turn Up The Heat

You can induce the body to use fat directly for heat. This important mechanism involves special structures known as uncoupling proteins. As I have briefly explained in previous articles most of your energy is processed and packaged into a temporary chemical cage called ATP. For most of your body’s energy needs ATP is used, and a by-product of this is heat generation. This also includes heat generation by what is known as shivering thermogenesis. Basically, powered by ATP, opposing muscles contract rapidly resulting in very little actual movement. In extreme cases of cold exposure it’s a vital mechanism to stay alive, but for everyday needs it’s an inefficient means of heat production.

First discovered in 1979 Thermogenin (UCP 1), is an uncoupling protein found mostly in brown adipose tissue. It can produce heat from nutrients without first being converted to ATP, hence the name uncoupling, as the process is independent of the usual energy cycle. This production of heat is termed thermogenesis.

Since 1997 scientists have discovered an additional 4 uncoupling proteins which unlike UCP 1 are found in common tissues in the body. However without turning this into a thesis on uncoupling, I’ll leave the explanation there. If there is call, I will write a larger piece on this subject.

However, the upshot of this is that influencing uncoupling and the resultant thermogenesis is an extremely potent method of fat loss. There are many chemicals that will greatly increase the gene expression of the UCP’s, resulting in the use of 1000’s of Calories worth of fat per day. Stating the obvious, generating this much heat is very dangerous and there have been numerous deaths associated with both intentional and unintentional exposure to these chemicals. Therefore I wouldn’t advise using them, nor will I name the compounds that are used.

Luckily there are many milder compounds that can stimulate uncoupling, that are found in everyday food with very low potential for toxicity. Stimulating uncoupling in this way, you can safely induce thermogenesis to use 10-15% of your total energy. An average 35 year old woman could use an additional 330 Kcal per day, all coming from fat. This would result in a loss of 2/3 lb of fat per week, without having to lift a finger. Over a year you are looking at a loss of 35lbs of fat.

For optimal fat loss, reset your thermostat.

‘The heat is on, on the street
Inside your head, on every beat
And the beat's so loud, deep inside
The pressure's high, just to stay alive
'Cause the heat is on’

~ Glenn Frey – The Heat Is On